John eex



J. REX.

GATTLE OAR.

(No Model.)

No. 244,076. Patented July 12,1881.

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WITNESSES.

Luz Z J wa N. PETERS, Pmmum UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN REX, OF FAIRBURY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-FOURTH TO WILLIAM K. STOFFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

CATTLE-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,076, dated July 12, 1881. Application filed February 18, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN REX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairbury, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cattle-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of stockcars provided with feed-troughs capable of bein g raised and lowered to suit, as circumstances may demand.

The object of my improvement is to simplify and cheapen the means employed for accomplishing this desirable result, and at the same time strengthen the body of the car.

My improvement will first be described, and then pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of ya car with my improvement attached. Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 represents an end view thereof, and Fig. 4 represents a detail sectional view.

The letter A designates a cattle-car, constructed with the usual side slats, a, door a, roof a and bottom or floor a B designates the troughs placed within the car A, and extending from end to end parallel with the side slats, a, which have secured thereto, and between the troughs and the slats a, loops or eyes 12, that encircle vertical rods 1), (within said car,) that are secured to the bottom a and roof a These vertical rods at tached to the floor and roof also serve the office of bracing-rods to the body of the car.

0 G designate rods or Windlass, having bearings in the ends of the car, as well as in brackets c, that are attached to the rods 12, the same running parallel with said troughs and sides of the car, one end of each extending beyond the end of the car and bent into a crank, 0 that is provided with a ratchet, c, and a pawl, 0 There are also attached to the rods or Windlass chains 0 0 one end being secured thereto and the other end thereof to the troughs B B.

D D designate the chutes placed on each side of the car A, one end, 01, of which extends within the same and rests on the troughs aforesaid, while the opposite end,d', projects somewhat beyond the sides of the car, and is pivoted to the same at d and between the slats a.

By pivoting the chutes to the car, so that the inner part will fall by specific gravity and adapt itself to the trough, as seen in Fig. 2, it will be observed that the chutes will permit the trough to be raised and lowered without removing the chutes, because as the trough ascends the chute is thrown in an upward inclined position by being struck up by the edge of the trough, and when the trough descends the chute assumes a downward-inclined position, allowing the trough to pass between them.

Having thus given a description of the different parts of which my improvement is composed, Iwill now proceed to explain the manner in which it is operated.

Operation: Figs. 1 and 2 represent the troughs B B in position to receive the grain, 850., which is poured from the exterior of the car by the attendant upon the chutes D D, which.( the grain) is guided and carried into the troughs. At the same time said troughs are suspended from the rods or Windlass G O by means of the chains 0 c, that are controlled by the ratchet c and pawl c on the end of the car. After the stock has finished eating or drinking, the crank 0 may be grasped by the attendant and revolved, thus revolving the rods 0 0, thereby winding thereon the chains 0 which has the efiect of raising the troughs, the same being guided by the eyes I), encircling the vertical rods b, until said troughs are raised to the roof, when the pawl a will engage with the ratchet 0, thereby securing the aforesaid troughs near the top of the car A.

It will thus be observed that when the troughs are to be lowered for the purpose herein mentioned the pawls are released from engagement with the ratchets, and the reverse operation to that just explained takes place and allows said troughs to be lowered. Also, it will be seen that when the troughs are not in use they can be raised to the roof of the car and out of the way, In a cattle-ear, in combination with a movathus allowing said car to be converted into a ble feed-trough, a pivoted chute arranged in freight-car. Again, should a hay-rack be desuch a manner as to permit the trough to pass sired, the same can be suspended in a similar above or below the chute, as described.

5 manner to that of the troughs, which, however, In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 I would prefer to construct of chains, as shown in presence of two witnesses.

in Fig. 4 of the annexed drawings. JOHN REX.

Having described myinvention, what Iclaim Witnesses: as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, T. G. HENDERSON, I0 is--- H. W. WEAVER. 

